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Joplin, MO, gives a warm welcome to the Rogue Riders, the Best of the Road team assigned to discover America’s friendliest small towns.9601280

Joplin, MO, gives a warm welcome to the Rogue Riders, the Best of the Road team assigned to discover America’s friendliest small towns.

Allison Otto

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Percy Katz (pictured here with museum director Brad Belk) is the official museum greeter at the Joplin Museum Complex in Joplin, MO. The 12-year-old Russian Blue, who is named after local composer Percy Weinrich, has survived cancer and a kidnapping that made front-page news to become the unofficial mascot of Joplin.9601280

Percy Katz (pictured here with museum director Brad Belk) is the official museum greeter at the Joplin Museum Complex in Joplin, MO. The 12-year-old Russian Blue, who is named after local composer Percy Weinrich, has survived cancer and a kidnapping that made front-page news to become the unofficial mascot of Joplin.

Allison Otto

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Percy Katz, Joplin’s most famous cat and resident greeter at the Joplin Museum Complex in Joplin, MO.9601280

Percy Katz, Joplin’s most famous cat and resident greeter at the Joplin Museum Complex in Joplin, MO.

Allison Otto

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Route 66 Carousel Park, a vintage, family-owned park along the popular Route 66 byway that runs through Joplin, MO.9601280

Route 66 Carousel Park, a vintage, family-owned park along the popular Route 66 byway that runs through Joplin, MO.

Allison Otto

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A view of Route 66 Carousel Park.9601280

A view of Route 66 Carousel Park.

Allison Otto

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Best of the Road co-hosts Gary Hurt and Amanda Pflugrad enjoy the Route 66 Carousel Park in Joplin, MO.9601280

Best of the Road co-hosts Gary Hurt and Amanda Pflugrad enjoy the Route 66 Carousel Park in Joplin, MO.

Allison Otto

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The Old Courthouse, built in 1892, is now the Bardstown Visitor’s Center. The Courthouse stands in the center of Bardstown’s historic district.9601280

The Old Courthouse, built in 1892, is now the Bardstown Visitor’s Center. The Courthouse stands in the center of Bardstown’s historic district.

Allison Otto

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Bardstown’s nickname is the Bourbon Capitol of the World with mint juleps made with bourbon being a popular local drink.9601280

Bardstown’s nickname is the Bourbon Capitol of the World with mint juleps made with bourbon being a popular local drink.

Allison Otto

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A mint julep made with Kentucky bourbon and topped with powdered sugar.9601280

A mint julep made with Kentucky bourbon and topped with powdered sugar.

Allison Otto

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Bardstown’s Old County Jail, built in 1797, was the oldest operating jail in the state of Kentucky until 1987.9601280

Bardstown’s Old County Jail, built in 1797, was the oldest operating jail in the state of Kentucky until 1987.

Allison Otto

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The old, one-room schoolhouse in historic Bardstown, Kentucky.9601280

The old, one-room schoolhouse in historic Bardstown, Kentucky.

Allison Otto

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Grand Falls, Missouri’s largest continually flowing natural waterfall, is a popular swimming hole just south of Joplin. The depth of the water can climb to about 25 feet.9601280

Grand Falls, Missouri’s largest continually flowing natural waterfall, is a popular swimming hole just south of Joplin. The depth of the water can climb to about 25 feet.

Photos

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Joplin, MO, gives a warm welcome to the Rogue Riders, the Best of the Road team assigned to discover America’s friendliest small towns.9601280

Joplin, MO, gives a warm welcome to the Rogue Riders, the Best of the Road team assigned to discover America’s friendliest small towns.

Allison Otto

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Percy Katz (pictured here with museum director Brad Belk) is the official museum greeter at the Joplin Museum Complex in Joplin, MO. The 12-year-old Russian Blue, who is named after local composer Percy Weinrich, has survived cancer and a kidnapping that made front-page news to become the unofficial mascot of Joplin.9601280

Percy Katz (pictured here with museum director Brad Belk) is the official museum greeter at the Joplin Museum Complex in Joplin, MO. The 12-year-old Russian Blue, who is named after local composer Percy Weinrich, has survived cancer and a kidnapping that made front-page news to become the unofficial mascot of Joplin.

Allison Otto

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Percy Katz, Joplin’s most famous cat and resident greeter at the Joplin Museum Complex in Joplin, MO.9601280

Percy Katz, Joplin’s most famous cat and resident greeter at the Joplin Museum Complex in Joplin, MO.

Allison Otto

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Route 66 Carousel Park, a vintage, family-owned park along the popular Route 66 byway that runs through Joplin, MO.9601280

Route 66 Carousel Park, a vintage, family-owned park along the popular Route 66 byway that runs through Joplin, MO.

Allison Otto

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A view of Route 66 Carousel Park.9601280

A view of Route 66 Carousel Park.

Allison Otto

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Best of the Road co-hosts Gary Hurt and Amanda Pflugrad enjoy the Route 66 Carousel Park in Joplin, MO.9601280

Best of the Road co-hosts Gary Hurt and Amanda Pflugrad enjoy the Route 66 Carousel Park in Joplin, MO.

Allison Otto

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The Old Courthouse, built in 1892, is now the Bardstown Visitor’s Center. The Courthouse stands in the center of Bardstown’s historic district.9601280

The Old Courthouse, built in 1892, is now the Bardstown Visitor’s Center. The Courthouse stands in the center of Bardstown’s historic district.

Allison Otto

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Bardstown’s nickname is the Bourbon Capitol of the World with mint juleps made with bourbon being a popular local drink.9601280

Bardstown’s nickname is the Bourbon Capitol of the World with mint juleps made with bourbon being a popular local drink.

Allison Otto

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A mint julep made with Kentucky bourbon and topped with powdered sugar.9601280

A mint julep made with Kentucky bourbon and topped with powdered sugar.

Allison Otto

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Bardstown’s Old County Jail, built in 1797, was the oldest operating jail in the state of Kentucky until 1987.9601280

Bardstown’s Old County Jail, built in 1797, was the oldest operating jail in the state of Kentucky until 1987.

Allison Otto

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The old, one-room schoolhouse in historic Bardstown, Kentucky.9601280

The old, one-room schoolhouse in historic Bardstown, Kentucky.

Allison Otto

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Grand Falls, Missouri’s largest continually flowing natural waterfall, is a popular swimming hole just south of Joplin. The depth of the water can climb to about 25 feet.9601280

Grand Falls, Missouri’s largest continually flowing natural waterfall, is a popular swimming hole just south of Joplin. The depth of the water can climb to about 25 feet.